Ontario beer drinkers are giving a thumbs down to a plan by police to create a keg registry to monitor and crack down on those buying kegs of their favourite brew for parties.

The proposal, which is under review by the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP), will give cops the power to track and check up on those purchasing kegs of beer.

Under the plan, keg buyers will have to leave their name, address, phone number or drivers licence to staff at The Beer Store, officials said yesterday.

NOT KEEPING TABS

"The last thing we want to do is to infringe on the rights of people," OACP spokesman Joe Couto said yesterday. "It is not our intention to keep tabs on people."

Couto said the proposal was made by London police Chief Murray Faulkner to stem a large amount of boisterous frat parties and frosh week celebrations at universities in his area.

"These parties have a significant impact on police resources," he said. "This activity takes police away for other jobs they have to do."

REPORT IN WORKS

Couto said the issue will be studied next week by an alcohol and gaming committee, whose members in March will compile a report for the chiefs.

If passed, there will discussions by the province, college groups and other parties on how to implement the change.

But Marty Gobin, of the Ontario Libertarian Party, said the registry will be a violation of people's privacy.

"We are concerned that police will use the information to check up on people," Gobin said yesterday.

He said the data on rowdy keg buyers can be entered into the Canadian Police Information Centre for future use.